“He turned it up, and it was uncontrollable”: Eddie Van Halen on the time Billy Corgan played through his rig – and why his setup shocked the Smashing Pumpkins frontman

Eddie Van Halen (left) and Billy Corgan.

Back in 1996, Guitar World arranged a generation-spanning guitar hero meeting of the minds.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman and electric guitar trendsetter Billy Corgan – never shy about talking up influences that were seen in certain circles of the day as uncool – sat down with one of his idols, Eddie Van Halen, to talk all things guitar.